Embed

description

Object description

British private and NCO served with 1st Bn Durham Light Infantry in GB, China, North Africa, Syria and Kos, 1933-1943; POW in Stalag 357, Germany, 1943-1945

Content description

REEL 1 Background in Sunderland and Horden, GB, 1912-1933: area grew up in; family; family home; discipline; early education; leisure activities; Sunday school; later education; family's service in Green Howards; work in Horden Colliery; 1926 General Strike; membership of Boys Brigade; other organisations joined; discipline; more on work in Horden Colliery; reasons for joining army; reaction of father; process of joining at West Hartlepool and reasons for not joining Royal Air Force; medical; wait for call-up; journey to Fenham Barracks. Aspects of period as recruit with Durham Light Infantry <DLI> in GB, 6/1933-12/1933: reception at Fenham; duties while waiting for squad to be formed; Lance Corporal in barrack room; naming of squad and barracks; accommodation; cleaning of barrack blocks; NCOs in squad.
REEL 2 Continues: description of barrack blocks; sleeping arrangements; uniform and equipment issued and wearing of puttees; insignia worn; marking of cap badge; theft among recruits; webbing equipment and packs; items carried in pack and haversack; cleaning of equipment and boots; friends in squad; best boots; kit inspections and tapes sewn into kit; discipline; man scrubbed clean; opinion of officers and NCOs; memories of Gawson; homosexuality in army; rifle issued; weapons training; cleaning of rifle; memories of Tommy Oliver and Donohue; initial training and Regimental cane; build-up to Light Infantry pace; marching in fours; weapons training; drilling by numbers; role of NCOs in drill; taking to drill and practice; drill for mounting guard; m make-up of guard; duties of stick orderly.
REEL 3 Continues: marching with stick and rifle; arms drill; Light Infantry pace; route marches; medical staff and Colonel Arderne on marches; physical training; training for boxing; other sports at depot including cross country; competition in sport; learning of regimental history; army education and extra pay received; free time in barracks; procedure for leaving barracks on Wednesday nights; leisure activities outside camp; relationship with civilians; punishments given out; morning procedures; description of dining room; breakfast; washing of utensils; issue of food; morning timetable and break; lunch; afternoon activities; tea; canteen.
REEL 4 Continues: Armistice Parade; passing out. Aspects of period as private with 1st Bn Durham Light Infantry in GB, 12/1933-10/1937: posted to Machine Gun Company at Catterick; make-up of battalion; accommodation; make-up of platoon; NCOs in platoon; NCO in barrack room; washing facilities; training with Lewis Gun; transport in company; make-up of a machine gun team; rotation of crew members; clearance of crest; Lewis guns in company; transportation of gun; stripping and assembly of gun; firing on Bisley Range; insignia worn by machine gunners; stoppages with machine guns; gun used for training; cooling of Vickers gun; role within battalion; rifle drill; revolver in machine gun company; live ammunition; opinion that routine same as in First World War; digging of trenches; opinion of field training and need for own initiative during war; gas training; exercises; mechanisation in 1934; opinion of training; bayonet training; discipline; memories of Regiment Sergeant Major Marks and different parades.
REEL 5 Continues: memories of Lance Sergeant George Flannigan and Sergeant Major Joey Davison; memories of Lieutenant Colonel Jackie Churchill and Charlie Viay; memories of NCOs including Sergeant Vardy; opinion of officers including Fox-Davies; opinion of NCOs; regular duties; details of pay; civilian clothes pass and leisure activities; leave; passes for London while at Blackdown; length of time served before could get civilian clothes pass; length of time at Catterick; journey to Blackdown Camp; opinion of camp; training; arrival of Lieutenant Colonel Wilson; relationship with civilians and other units; sports played at Blackdown; visits to Reading on Regimental Passion Wagon; short arm inspections and later problems with VD; VD lectures; sick parades and treatment for ulcers; opinion of Catterick Hospital and its staff; vehicles in battalion after mechanisation and opinion of Carden Lloyd; driving lessons; manoeuvres on Salisbury Plain; TEWTs; knowledge of problems with Germany; drafts going to the 2nd Battalion.
REEL 6 Continues: role of machine gunners on exercises; fixed and cross line fire; use of live ammunition; development of training from platoon to division; experimental flight at Farnborough; church parades; use of free time on Sunday afternoons; inoculations before going abroad; role in advance party; own and family's reactions to going abroad; embarkation leave; tropical kit issued including flash on topee; lectures. Aspects of journey of journey from GB to Shanghai, China, aboard the Dilwara, 10/1937-12/1937: role in China; send off at docks; physical training; boat drill; cleanliness of ship; crew of Dilwara; accommodation and sleeping arrangements; cleaning of living quarters; inspections; other passengers on ship; leisure time; route marches in Port Said, Bombay and Singapore; conditions in hotter climate; rifle inspections; guard duties; rations; seasickness; NAAFI; activities on ship; length of journey. Aspects of period as private with 1st Bn Durham Light Infantry in China, 12-1937-9/1939: arrival in Shanghai; description of barracks; accommodation; split of battalion; reason for date being hazy in memory; rations; food available outside camp; civilian workers in camp; Indian contractors.
REEL 7 Continues: water and waterworks guard; reason for absence of machine guns; weapons in battalion; hygiene; effect of climate; policing duties; story of Major Hislop helping refugees; relationship with Japanese; story of Japanese shooting refugees in creek; opinion of Japanese troops; story showing difficulties created by language gap; river guard duties in Tientsin; accommodation; duties in Tientsin; leisure activities; contact with troops from other countries; systems to help prevent VD; mail; newspapers in NAAFI; out of bounds areas; church parades; funeral of Corporal Scott; standard of turnout; guard duties; effects of Tientsin floods; relationship with civilians; plans to stay in China; outbreak of war; reasons for not realising war was coming; reorganisation and preparations to leave; evacuation of families; reactions of troops on journey to Port Said; journey to Hong Kong; posting as officers mess cook; reasons for dislike of post.
REEL 8 Continues: length of time in Hong Kong; change in administration of battalion; knowledge of destination; start of censorship; officers and NCOs of battalion; promotion of RSM Bush and SM 'Topper' Brown to officers; journey to Port Said. Aspects of operations as private and NCO with 1st Bn Durham Light Infantry in North Africa, 1/1940-7/1941: arrival in Port Said; accommodation; duties patrolling canal; boarding of Italian ship when Italy joined war; Royal proclamation about prize money; opinion of Winston Churchill; route marches; posting to Mersa Matruh; posting in A Company; battalion split between defensive areas; digging of defences and slit trenches; rations; health of battalion; hygiene; latrines; air activity; company officers and NCOs; request for transfer to paratroopers; promotion to Lance Sergeant at Moascar; duties as Lance Sergeant; officers in section; places stationed; set up of dummy tanks and their dust trails; casualties during bayonet charge at Fort Capuzzo; formation before charge; reactions to situation; company line; communications; position in line; shelling; screaming on advance; distance of charge; troops faced and German counter attacking policy; thoughts at start of attack; activities of Lieutenant Woodhall and discipline of advance; fight with an Italian; treatment given to Lieutenant Blakey; evacuation of Blakey; casualties; disappearance of Paddy May; Ray Armstrong's escape from imprisonment; reflections on action at Fort Capuzzo.
REEL 9 Continues: terrain of desert; difficulties in moving around; duties in Bardia and escort of Royal Engineers; strain during night operations; story of medical officer hitting a private; opinion of officers; pull back to Sollum after Capuzzo; reactions after an attack; opinion of Italian and German troops; reaction to loss of friends; story of Johnny Giles at Capuzzo; difficulty of bayonet charge; Italians killed; reinforcements and meal cooked at Buq Buq; concerns of married recruits; settling in and training of reinforcements; re-equipment in Canal Zone; journey to Syria. Aspects of operations as private with 1st Bn Durham Light Infantry in Middle East, 7/1941-10/1941: role in Syria; terrain and mules used for transport; move through Merdjayoun; shelling; patrols; rations and water; discipline; climb up Mount Hermon.
REEL 10 Continues: return to Egypt and activities; warnings against talking too much in bars and dummy run before journey to Tobruk; scenes in Tobruk harbour; conditions on ship. Aspects of operations as NCO with 1st Bn Durham Light Infantry in North Africa, 10/1941-12/1941: first impressions of Tobruk; defensive positions taken up; story of patrol to take troops to forward position; smell of dead people; equipment taken on patrol; communications; camouflage; problems with flies; defences dug; air activity; shooting down of a Junkers Ju 87 Stuka; sheltering from Junkers Ju 87 Stuka attacks; spread of battalion; journey to Battalion Headquarters for orders; water rations; hygiene; the cleansing power of sand; keeping weapon clean; cooking of meals and rations; fires made with petrol and sand; latrines; Italian soda water found; health of battalion; treatment of desert sores; concerns Tobruk; relief of boredom; navigation problems at night; medical facilities; knowledge of full extent of defences.
REEL 11 Continues: make-up of a patrol; preparations for and time of patrols; navigation and movement; role of patrols and sounds heard in No Man's Land; opinion of verey lights; scenes from air activity; sleep; camouflage and description of slit trench; annoyance at lack of knowledge; use of sticky and 68 bombs; morale and readiness of troops; move through Essex Regiment lines for breakout at El Duda; formation and start of advance; weapon and ammunition carried; shooting of troops surrendering; withdrawal of Axis troops; wounding of leg; initial treatment; time in Tobruk hospital; self-discharge and return to regiment; reactions to going into battle. Aspects of period as NCO with 1st Bn Durham Light Infantry in Egypt, 12/1941-1/1942: return to Egypt; description of Geneifa; leave; troops met who never fought; opinion of Egyptians; weapons in battalion and opinions of Bren Gun, Thompson Submachine Gun and Boyes Anti- Tank Gun.
REEL 12 Continues: activities in Delta area; orders for posting in Malta; Axis weapons picked up; opinion of Spandau; Aspects of journey from Alexandria, Egypt, to Malta aboard the Breconshire, 1/1942: escort; use of bren guns; cargo carried by ship; Junkers Ju 87 Stuka attacks; opinion of escort; reactions to situation and preference for fighting on land; proximity of bombs; length of voyage; first sight of Malta. Aspects of period as NCO with 1st Bn Durham Light Infantry in Malta, 1/1942-6/1943: split of battalion; stay at Verdala Palace; disembarkation from Breconshire; increase in air activity; training of Home Guard in Rabat; inspection from Lord Gort; terrain of Malta; issue of bicycles; role in Malta; patrols; maintenance of aerodromes; building of sangars for planes; flight to Gozo and orders not to fly; opinion of Royal Air Force personnel; training school for instructors; guard duties; activities when not fighting and memories of Regiment Sergeant Major George Flannigan; accommodation; description of Dingli; religion on Malta and relationship with civilians; order to find shot down airmen before civilians; dealing with unexploded bombs; civilian casualties; firing at German plane with bren gun; morale of battalion; dealing with troops who lost nerve; guarding of mental hospital; stop and search of civilians.
REEL 13 Continues: rationing; battalion cobbler; cigarette ration; unloading of convoys in Valletta; rationing of ammunition; memories of padre; relationship with civilians; mail; effects of being abroad for so long; opinion of censorship of mail; sleeping arrangements; hygiene; latrines; sanitation troops; fitness of troops; leisure activities; visits to Valletta; local drinks; improvements to situation; air activity; commanding officers; duties as Sergeant; items banned; arrival of high ranking soldiers when going got easier; reactions to this; most important troops in battalion; leave; pay; bombing in Valletta.
REEL 14 Continues: Aspects of period as NCO with 1st Bn Durham Light Infantry in Syria, 6/1943-7/1943: posted to Syria; training undertaken in Syria; accommodation; problems with scorpions; knowledge of next posting; leisure activities; opinion of Colonel Arderne; flight away from Syria; refuelling in Cyprus; knowledge of destination; landed on island later told was Kos; mortars in aeroplane. Aspects of operations as NCO with 1st Bn Durham Light Infantry in Kos, 7/1943: dispersal on arrival; sent to isolated spot; lack of information; farm section sent to; Bofor gun emplacement; confusion of situation; communications; air activity; story of civilian drawing message and asking Lieutenant Symmonds of he should investigate; German invasion; disappearance of Bofor gun crew; activities in hills; plan to steal boat and sail for Turkey; shelter in hills; rations; search for boat; realisation they were finished; reaction to having to surrender; destruction of radio and burial of rifle. Aspects of period as POW in transit, 7/1943: surrender; feelings as surrendered; opinion that leadership had been poor; morale of troops; surprise at number of POWs; German who took him prisoner; intention to fight and realisation situation was hopeless; opinion that should not have gone to Kos; opinion of German troops; organisation of queue for water; concern for future; discovery of submarines off island; list of names for Red Cross; rations; journey to Piraeus; concerns on journey; line-up on quayside; opinion of German troops; conditions on train journey; thoughts of escape; rations on journey; latrines.
REEL 15 Continues: not allowed off train; food given on journey; latrines; alighting from train at end of journey; opinion of German guards; escape attempt in another truck; condition after journey; hope for improvement. Aspects of period as POW in Germany, 1943-1945: arrival at camp; given choice of whether to work or not; photograph and identity disc; week waiting to be sorted; taken to Stalag 357; accommodation; sleeping arrangements; role of senior NCO; visit of Red Cross and new uniform given; opinion of Red Cross; contents of Red Cross parcels; sharing of parcels; background of POWs; bartering with Red Cross items; tricks played on sentries; civilians working in camp; rations; importance of Red Cross parcels; contact with guards; deterioration of health; music lessons; formation of orchestra; theatrical shows; items made from material in Red Cross parcels; medical facilities; organisation of discipline among POWs; requests made to Germans for needs; work of escape committee; escape attempts; sports played in camp; importance of humour; layout of camp; roll call; blower for fires; tapping of electrical system to heat food and water; collection of fuel from forest; stoves.
REEL 16 Continues: issue and heating of rations; description of blowers made to create fires; breakfast; time of roll call; guards; soup at noon; food for rest of day; discipline; punishment for stealing and latrines; washing facilities; methods for keeping warm; reading; camp library; parcels from home; camp shop; German retaliation for alleged poor treatment of prisoners in England; reaction to treatment; Red Cross inspections; holding back of Red Cross parcels; reasons for refusal to work; need to take care of oneself; group of friends in camp; feeling that would beat Germans; change in Germans as war progressed; news of D-Day; upset at way captured; news of war from wireless assembled through contact with civilians; winter conditions; activities to keep morale up. Aspects of period as POW in transit, 1945: start of forced march; pig meal stolen for food; fight with German sentry; hiding from Germans within column; theft of potatoes.
REEL 17 Continues: guards on march; sound of allied guns; plan to escape from column; escape into bush; time on the run; capture by German patrol; handed over to farmhouse working party; time at farmhouse near Munster; liberation from British major; cleaning up; length of march from POW Camp; food on journey; treatment of POWs; condition on march; areas marched through; joining with other columns; deterioration of health; boots; liberation and cleaning up in British camp; flight to GB. Aspects of period as NCO in GB, 4/1945-2/1946: medical; treatment in hospital; reception in GB; discipline in hospital; leave; reception from family; feelings on return home; opinion of civilians; initial interest from civilians in his experiences; reasons for leaving army; clothes given upon demobilisation in York; giving of army kit to friends; details of gratuity; demobilisation date and decision to be discharged as ex-POW; civilian work following war including problems with getting work.

Related content

Instituted in the hope of avoiding war, appeasement was the name given to Britain’s policy in the 1930s of allowing Hitler to expand German territory unchecked. Most closely associated with British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, it is now widely discredited as a policy of weakness. Yet at the time, it was a popular and seemingly pragmatic policy.

Military conflict took place during every year of the 20th Century. There were only short periods of time that the world was free of war. The total number of deaths caused by war during the 20th Century has been estimated at 187 million and is probably higher.